Rockets treating Lakers with respect

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The Lakers return to Houston with a three-game losing streak and three key frontcourt players -Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill – all out. But the Rockets said they would have to think of the Lakers as the team they were expected to be.

“They’re a great team,” Toney Douglas said before the injuries were announced. “They’re struggling right now. But we have to go in still with a mindset they’re the best team in the league. We have to be on point. Any night they can step up and bring it. We have to make sure we stay consistent with what we do.”

Harden grabs Western Conference accolade

James Harden was named Western Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season, leading the Rockets to a 4-0 week including comebacks from double-digit deficits in a road back-to-back.

Harden is the first Rockets player named Player of the Week twice in a season since Tracy McGrady during the 2007-08 season. McGrady won it four times in the 2004-05 season.

Harden averaged 29.3 points and 5.5 assists, never scoring fewer than 28 points in games against the Hawks, Hornets, Bucks and Cavaliers.

“He’s a great basketball player,” coach Kevin McHale said of Harden’s role change since his move from sixth man to go-to scorer with the trade to the Rockets. “He just knows how to play. He has a great change of pace. He goes fast when he needs to go fast. When he goes downhill on you from halfcourt on in, side-stepping guys, he’s strong, he can finish. He’s just a very explosive player.”

The Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony was the Player of the Week in the East.

Coaches, players send best wishes to Royce White

A day after the Rockets suspended Royce White for “refusing to provide services,” teammates and coaches wished him well while carefully not taking a position on the impasse that has kept him away from the team since Nov. 12.

“I’m so worried about the guys that are here,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. “It’s kind of unfortunate, but with Royce and everything he’s going through, he’s dealt mostly with upper management. We haven’t seen him. Derrick (Alston, a basketball staff intern) has worked him out a couple times, but . we’ve been on the road. Royce, the time we spent with him, a nice young man, a good young man. I sure hope he gets it all straightened and back to doing something he loves which is play basketball.”

Toney Douglas said he prays for White every day. Jeremy Lin said White would be welcomed back “whenever he and the Rockets come to the deal that works for both of them.

“Obviously, we as a team were hoping it will happen soon, but to be honest, we’re kind of in . I don’t know much about the situation besides just what I’ve been reading online,” Lin said. “We’re all missing him and supporting him. Hopefully, we’ll get him back.”